Due to the abundance of positive reviews, I couldn’t help but be drawn to Celeste. Avoiding all spoilers, I strapped myself in for what many describe as a sublime experience. Admittedly, I was a little let down in the beginning, as I had not yet understood the journey that awaited me. As I progressed and the story developed, I grew fonder of the game and ultimately felt pride in reaching the summit of Mount Celeste. The expression, “the journey is more important than the destination” fits this game to a T.
Just a fair warning for those interested in the game: Celeste is a precision platformer and is often unforgiving, so be prepared to fail a lot (818 deaths during my first run).

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2176221722
Played with PlayStation 4 controller

[+] Challenging is a very accurate description of the game.
Comparable to the likes of Super Meat Boy, Celeste is a 2D platformer that offers little room for mistakes - one hit kills you instantly and sends you back to the beginning of the screen. Thankfully, the respawn/reload times are very short, cushioning the player from the frustrations of frequent deaths.

Deaths are (nearly) inevitable but given that the controls are simple and responsive, I never had the impression that the game was unfair; just difficult. Furthermore, each level introduces new platforming mechanics that gradually become more demanding as the level progresses. These nuances to your controls/movement add novelty and imbues progression with a sense of mastery. Definitely another great example of a game that is “easy to learn but difficult to master”.

[+] Diverse levels paired with sublime soundtracks.
This one is fairly straightforward, so I won’t go into too much detail. Every level has a unique theme, setting, and fantastic paired soundtrack. Check out the trailer for a quick taste.

[+] The story is what sets Celeste apart from other games in this genre.
Yes, the gameplay is good but the story elevates this game to new heights (cause they climb a mountain, get it?). While the story touches on many themes, mental health and personal growth are the centrepiece. It is clear that Madeline (the main character) suffers from a range of negative emotions (fear, anger, anxiety and depression), so much so that her emotions physically manifest in the form of Badeline (great name, I agree).

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2176221194
The progression of their relationship is nothing short of inspiring. What starts out as an antagonistic relationship, ends up being one of partnership and encouragement. In scaling the mountain, Madeline shows incredible determination for self improvement. It is therefore immensely appropriate that the gameplay is challenging since the mountain is essentially a big metaphor for how frightening, discouraging, and challenging it can be to face your internal struggles. In fact, the journey was so touching that I felt encouraged to focus on my mental health.

[+] I especially loved the last level (Summit) as it combines the best of the story and gameplay.
In terms of gameplay, it serves as a challenging summary of your journey up the mountain by featuring the different platforming mechanics in a new setting. In terms of story, it marks the first big step to self improvement (physically represented by the summit) and the beginning of a great partnership between M(B)adeline. Overall just an excellent level.

[+] Completing the main story is only the tip of the iceberg.
The main game is not very long (~5 hours depending on your skill level) but is sufficiently challenging and long enough for plot development. The additional levels, however, are where things get really spicy. Hidden collectables in the form of crystal hearts and B-side cassettes unlock additional levels that are significantly harder than the main levels and were probably designed for precision platforming fanatics. I gave them an honest attempt but threw in the towel since I wasn’t enjoying myself. Regardless, it’s nice to have the option for harder levels, especially if you’re a masochist.

[-] Celeste is a precision platformer, plain and simple.
It is clear that experiencing the difficulty of the game firsthand is central to the story/message but I would imagine that even the core game might be too challenging for most casual gamers. Despite having a great story that is alluring to many, it seems that the gameplay is intended for a niche audience. If you are unprepared, this could result in a frustrating experience rather than an elevating one.

[x] I experienced some technical difficulties concerning controller recognition:
[1]When starting the game, if my first input is with the keyboard, I wouldn’t be able to get my controller to work. The only solution I found was to reset the game.
[2]Using the keyboard at all while playing (alt+tab or shift+tab, for example) often disconnects the controller. It would often take 30 seconds upon returning to the game for the controller to be functional again.
Neither is a major cause for concern but a fix would be nice.

Celeste is a fantastic experience but (likely) only if you fall within the niche of gamers that enjoy precision platformers. Even I, who typically loves platformers, sometimes found my patience wavering at times (nothing a little break couldn’t fix). However, it is vital to clarify that Celeste isn’t just about the platforming - it is the fusion of challenging gameplay and brilliant storytelling that sets this game apart. Failing is required to fully immerse yourself in this heartwarming journey.

Although I adore this game, I would only recommend this game if you are willing and ready to suffer (definitely worth it though).

Due to the abundance of positive reviews, I couldn’t help but be drawn to [b]Celeste[/b]. Avoiding all spoilers, I strapped myself in for what many describe as a sublime experience. Admittedly, I was a little let down in the beginning, as I had not yet understood the journey that awaited me. As I progressed and the story developed, I grew fonder of the game and ultimately felt pride in reaching the summit of Mount Celeste. The expression, “the journey is more important than the destination” fits this game to a T. Just a fair warning for those interested in the game: Celeste is a precision platformer and is often unforgiving, so be prepared to fail a lot (818 deaths during my first run). https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2176221722 [u][b]Played with PlayStation 4 controller[/b][/u] [h1]✔️[u]Positive:[/u][/h1] [b][+] Challenging is a very accurate description of the game.[/b] Comparable to the likes of Super Meat Boy, Celeste is a 2D platformer that offers little room for mistakes - one hit kills you instantly and sends you back to the beginning of the screen. Thankfully, the respawn/reload times are very short, cushioning the player from the frustrations of frequent deaths. Deaths are (nearly) inevitable but given that the controls are simple and responsive, I never had the impression that the game was unfair; just difficult. Furthermore, each level introduces new platforming mechanics that gradually become more demanding as the level progresses. These nuances to your controls/movement add novelty and imbues progression with a sense of mastery. Definitely another great example of a game that is “easy to learn but difficult to master”. [b][+] Diverse levels paired with sublime soundtracks.[/b] This one is fairly straightforward, so I won’t go into too much detail. Every level has a unique theme, setting, and fantastic paired soundtrack. Check out the trailer for a quick taste. [b][+] The story is what sets Celeste apart from other games in this genre.[/b] Yes, the gameplay is good but the story elevates this game to new heights [i](cause they climb a mountain, get it?)[/i]. While the story touches on many themes, mental health and personal growth are the centrepiece. It is clear that Madeline (the main character) suffers from a range of negative emotions (fear, anger, anxiety and depression), so much so that her emotions physically manifest in the form of Badeline (great name, I agree). https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2176221194 The progression of their relationship is nothing short of inspiring. [spoiler]What starts out as an antagonistic relationship, ends up being one of [url=https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2177190353]partnership and encouragement.[/url][/spoiler] In scaling the mountain, Madeline shows incredible determination for self improvement. It is therefore immensely appropriate that the gameplay is challenging since the mountain is essentially a big metaphor for how frightening, discouraging, and challenging it can be to face your internal struggles. In fact, the journey was so touching that I felt encouraged to focus on my mental health. [b][+] I especially loved the last level (Summit) as it combines the best of the story and gameplay.[/b] In terms of gameplay, it serves as a challenging summary of your journey up the mountain by featuring the different platforming mechanics in a new setting. In terms of story, it marks the first big step to self improvement (physically represented by the summit) and the beginning of a great partnership between M(B)adeline. Overall just an excellent level. [b][+] Completing the main story is only the tip of the iceberg.[/b] The main game is not very long (~5 hours depending on your skill level) but is sufficiently challenging and long enough for plot development. The additional levels, however, are where things get really spicy. Hidden collectables in the form of crystal hearts and B-side cassettes unlock additional levels that are significantly harder than the main levels and were probably designed for precision platforming fanatics. I gave them an honest attempt but threw in the towel since I wasn’t enjoying myself. Regardless, it’s nice to have the option for harder levels, especially if you’re a masochist. [h1]➖[u]Neutral:[/u][/h1] [b][-] Celeste is a precision platformer, plain and simple.[/b] It is clear that experiencing the difficulty of the game firsthand is central to the story/message but I would imagine that even the core game might be too challenging for most casual gamers. Despite having a great story that is alluring to many, it seems that the gameplay is intended for a niche audience. If you are unprepared, this could result in a frustrating experience rather than an elevating one. [h1]❌[u]Negative:[/u][/h1] [b][x] I experienced some technical difficulties concerning controller recognition:[/b] [1]When starting the game, if my first input is with the keyboard, I wouldn’t be able to get my controller to work. The only solution I found was to reset the game. [strike][2]Using the keyboard at all while playing (alt+tab or shift+tab, for example) often disconnects the controller. It would often take 30 seconds upon returning to the game for the controller to be functional again.[/strike] Neither is a major cause for concern but a fix would be nice. [h1]🏅[u]Verdict:[/u][/h1] [h1]★★★★✬ Excellent (if you enjoy precision platformers)[/h1] Celeste is a fantastic experience but (likely) only if you fall within the niche of gamers that enjoy precision platformers. Even I, who typically loves platformers, sometimes found my patience wavering at times (nothing a little break couldn’t fix). However, it is vital to clarify that Celeste isn’t just about the platforming - it is the fusion of challenging gameplay and brilliant storytelling that sets this game apart. Failing is [u]required[/u] to fully immerse yourself in this heartwarming journey. Although I adore this game, I would only recommend this game if you are willing and ready to suffer (definitely worth it though). [table] [tr][th][url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/26827738/]If you found this review helpful, please give it a thumbs up and follow me on my [b]curator page[/b].[/url] 🇹🇭🇦🇳🇰 🇾🇴🇺 🇫🇴🇷 🇾🇴🇺🇷 🇸🇺🇵🇵🇴🇷🇹! [/th][/tr] [/table]